Over Rs. 18.81 crore wasted on parl secretaries, CM asked to repay

Aizawl (zoramobserver.com): The Aizawl based anti corruption watchdog, Peoples Right to Information and Development Society of Mizoram (PRISM) alleged that the Mizoram government has wasted over Rs. 18.81 crore of public money in maintenance of unconstitutional parliamentary secretaries and asked Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla to refund the incurred loss.

Addressing a review meeting on the salaries and expenditures of parliamentary secretaries at the watchdog conference hall here today, PRISM president Vanlalrauat said that the total amount of public money that Mizoram government had wasted for maintenance of 13 parliamentaries after the implementation of unconstitutional “The Mizoram Parliamentary Secretaries (Appointment, Salaries, Allowances and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009 was calculated at Rs. 18,81,51,159.

The calculation did not include the cost of purchased vehicles and vehicular maintenance and travelling expenses of parliamentary secretaries and their personal secretaries, he added.

File photo: PRISM president Vanlalruata

With the implementation of unconstutional “The Mizoram Parliamentary Secretaries (Appointment, Salaries, Allowances and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009, Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla had appointed 13 parliamentary secretaries during two terms of Congress government since 2008.

According to Vanlalruata, the total emolument including allowance receive by a parliamentary secretary per month as calculated by the watchdog was Rs. 83,000 and the total difference against the total emolument enjoy by a legislator per month was Rs. 18,000.

He said that parliamentary secretaries enjoyed certain facilities and amenities which were not enjoyed by legislators. Among others, parliamentary secretaries enjoy free internet service, free electric bill, free water bill and hired two drivers, one personal secretaries, two office peons, three household peons, and the total value of amenities enjoy by a parliamentary secretary in a year was estimated at over Rs. 29.75 lakh.

He said that the total value of facilities including salary enjoyed by a single parliamentary secretary in one term or during five years was calculated at over Rs. 2. 41 crore and the difference against the total value of facilities and salary enjoy by a legislator during the same period was over Rs 17. 45 lakh.

According to the president, during 2008-2013 the cost of maintenance of unconstitutional parliamentary secretaries was calculated at Rs. 9,08,31,594 and during 2013-2018 (term), the government wasted public money amounting to Rs. 9,73,19,565 for maintenance of parliamentary secretaries. Therefore, the total amount of public money that the government wasted for maintenance of 13 parliamentary secretaries during two terms was more than Rs. 18.81 lakh, Vanlalruata said.

As the ‘Public Servant Personal Liability Act, 2010’ states that the person who appoint parliamentary secretaries should refund the amount, Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla must repay the loss, he added.

Co-Editor, Zoramobserver.com. Mr. Khojol is a journalist based in Aizawl, Mizoram. He writes for various national and regional media houses. In his free time, he can be caught reading books and watching movies.